There's a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to using essential oils with pets.

What may seem to be good tips often have safety risks.

And since most people aren't going to invest in aromatherapy certification to discern the truth about essential oil safety, you've probably made one or more of the 5 Common Mistakes that I've seen people make when using essential oils with their dog.

Before I start sharing those tips, I want you to hear me loud and clear: it's not your fault. 

It really isn't. There's wayyyy more excited, untrained essential oil users posting information than experts.

The good news is now that you know there is a safe way to use them, you can make better choices moving forward.  Sound good? OK.

Today we're talking about the 5 Common Mistakes when using essential oils with your dog, and the one thing you probably AREN'T already doing, and need to.

1. The first mistake people make when using essential oils with their dog is to pick essential oils they already have without finding out if they are safe for their dog or not. 
   
   Example: members inside my community know Eucalyptus isn't safe for young children, so we use Fir Needle for congestion instead (it's much more effective anyway). But Fir Needle isn't safe for dogs since it's high in the constituent a-pinene. 
   
   What may be safe for children may not be safe for dogs, so it's important to check the safety of an essential oil before using it.
    
2. The second mistake people make when using essential oils with their dogs is to use them when they are still puppies. 
   
   Essential oils are realllllly strong, and our dogs are generally much smaller than we are by weight. Puppies are even smaller, and like children, we use extra caution with them. Avoiding the use of essential oils until they are over six months old is preferred.
    
3. The third mistake people make when using essential oils with their dog is adding essential oils to their water bowl. 
   
   Yup, I've seen websites devoted to using essential oils with all sorts of animals and suggesting you should add essential oils to your dog's water bowl, sprinkle over food, and even put in their ears.
   
   Essential oils don't belong in your pet's water bowl for a number of reasons. Since water and oil don't mix, the essential oils will float on the surface and touch the dog's tongue, mouth, and nose at full concentration, which can cause topical irritation, and sores. Not to mention internal damage. There are safe, intentional ways to use essential oils with your dog, but this isn't one of them.
    
4. Another mistake people make when using essential oils with their dog is not realizing inhalation can be an effective remedy for physical issues. 
   
   Allowing your dog to inhale essential oils can help them not just with emotional issues, but also with physical pain. 
   
   But there is a specific way you must do this in order to be both safe and effective, and I'll share that in a minute.
    
5. The fifth and final mistake I want to share with you that I've seen people make when using their essential oils with their dog is thinking essential oils are the first go-to when an issue arises. 
   
   We have a variety of options when it comes to helping our pets, so we should consider other remedies like herbs and hydrosols instead of going immediately for the essential oils out of habit. 
   
   Hydrosols, for example, are gentle and effective for dogs and other pets. These are a great first choice for topical skin issues as well as internal issues. I'll talk more about hydrosols in an up-coming episode, but in case you're hearing about them for the first time, hyrosols are co-created during the steam distillation of essential oils. They look like water, but have a light fragrance and can be used therapeutically.

So there you have it! 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Using Essential Oils With Their Dog.